Digi manifold in the uk

[Mothyb]

Good afternoon all

I've been looking to get a digital manifold set and have been looking at a lot of info and reviews on t'internet. I like the look of the AK900 or the Sman4, however although the choice is vast in the USA, it seems to be pretty much non existent here in the UK. Are there any Brits on here who could point me in the right direction of what's readily available, what's any good and where to get it? Cheers T

[monkey spanners]

I have a Testo 550 i got from FSW, Climate center can get them as well or you can buy direct from Testo.

The Fieldpiece SMAN4 are available from Maxkold. Not sure on the AK900.

You could email the manufacturers in the States and ask for their UK distributors contact details.

[Rob White]

.

I would go for the Testo.

I have a selection of them :D but prefer the 570 because
it has proper vac reading and pressure testing functions.

Regards

Rob

.

[Mothyb]

An that's great cheers guys. I did look at the testo sets but I've read so much from folk about I reliability. I take it you guys have had no bother with them then?

[RONB]

Have a look at the Yellow Jacket System Analyzer. It's a cracking piece of kit.

[marc5180]

I bought the Digi-cool AK900 gauges after weeks of reading all of the reviews and I've got to say they're the best set I've owned and I've owned a few.
I had the Testo 550 but found them plasticky and I didn't like the fact I had to scroll through to get the data I wanted.

The reason I went for these over the other makes were;

1) All of the data is on one screen and you don't have to scroll through for example to get superheat, Subcooling, and differential of both sensors etc.

2) The price is reasonable at $299 dollars, after shipping and taxes they probably cost around £300 which is really good considering the price of Testos.

3) sturdy, durable and water proof. Look up torture tests on the AK900.

4) Accuracy within 0.5%

5) Lastly they come with dual scissor clamps (or my package did.. AKTS1140) which are good for pipe work up to 2-1/8"

[NewmanRef]

Stay away from the master cool ones. Mine were out of calibration after a fortnight, torr gauge attachment fell to bits and I was left with a very expensive carry case that I now keep my analogue set in.

[Peter_1]

Wait some weeks on the release of the Imanifold of Imperial. Awesome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDEFxRRLViY

[Rob White]

.

I had mine given to me as payment for work I did with Testo,
so I might be biased. I have had no problems and I abuse the
little blighters.

The only issue is batteries, you need to keep on top of the battery
usage and remember to turn the thing off when not in use because
it will keep on working until the batteries are flat.

Rob

.

[marc5180]

Do yours not automatically switch off rob after a few minutes of not being used:)

[Grizzly]

.

I had mine given to me as payment for work I did with Testo,
so I might be biased. I have had no problems and I abuse the
little blighters.

The only issue is batteries, you need to keep on top of the battery
usage and remember to turn the thing off when not in use because
it will keep on working until the batteries are flat.

Rob

.

Next time you work for them, can I carry your tools Rob?
Grizzly

[Mothyb]

Thanks for all the info guys. I did original yaks the boss about getting the master cool set but I'm gonna steer clear of them now and look to import a set of sman4 or digicool. I do like the idea of the imanifold especially as it would work great with my ipad but I reccon it's gonna be too highly priced for the market. Digicool have the right idea. A good manifold at a competitive price.

[Rob White]

Do yours not automatically switch off rob after a few minutes of not being used:)

Cheeky bugger :D


Rob

.

[Rob White]

Next time you work for them, can I carry your tools Rob?
Grizzly

:D

I can't green you any more, I have to spread my luuuv around.

Rob

.

[Peter_1]

I have the Yellow JAcket 40815 , http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Jacket-40815-Refrigeration-Analyzer/dp/B002JF8PWO/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1
It has also logging possibilities which the Digicool doesn't have

[FreezerGeezer]

I like the look of the Imperial App, what I've seen so far.

I don't own a digital manifold, so take the following as you like:

I personally prefer analogue gauges, mainly because the electronic vac. gauges I have used have a tendency to give weird readings sometimes. I just feel that I don't fully trust them. (CPS & JB brands. The one I had in the UK was good - no messing about, not fiddly to choose the units of measurement. Never got an odd reading. Can't recall which brand it was)
However, a mate had an early Refco (iirc) digital manifold. It was the top of the range versio , did superheat & subcool & all that. It also had a data logging capability, and the sensors were laboratory grade. They were clearly excellent sensors, never once went out of calibration. Whereas I have heard of a few cheaper units requiring regular calibration.
That manifold is no longer available. Apparently it was too expensive for the market. My mate made his pay for itself by charging clients for using it, particularly the data logging feature.
Anyway, it seems to me that it's important to know what quality of sensors are in the manifold.

[r.bartlett]

you split bashers sure like the fancy stuff and I hope you have all taken a manual handling awareness course for these bad boys.:D.

[install monkey]

youu charge systems by hand richard- hand on suction line when its cold its done, grab the discharge line- when u cant keep hold of it its done!:p- love to see what gear you have in your garage- bet you spit on ur hand to work out humidity levels! haha

you split bashers sure like the fancy stuff and I hope you have all taken a manual handling awareness course for these bad boys.:D.

[RusBuka]

Wait wireless sensors, and then only buy.
Very handy gadget, takes up little space.

[r.bartlett]

youu charge systems by hand richard- hand on suction line when its cold its done, grab the discharge line- when u cant keep hold of it its done!:p- love to see what gear you have in your garage- bet you spit on ur hand to work out humidity levels! haha

I charge by weight these days.

[install monkey]

11394they do digital scales now:p

[Peter_1]

It can have some advantages: placing the manifold on site with a small laptop and following ot at home. Logging over several days and monitoring at home. Placing manifold on a rack in the machine room and see the readings in the supermarket shop. A technican has some problems and can ask some help from colleagues. Some manufacturers can write some software it for the 'normal' readings of a specific unit you can choose out of a menu. You then can compare with actual readings.
For the records: we have a Yellow Jacket and 2 Refco's (the grean, cheap very bad ones) and we only use it for logging for some days and when we work on cascade systems. To expensive to use the Y.J. every day. And the battery problem

[RusBuka]

Im using Testo 556. He has port for AC adapter.

[MikeHolm]

I've got 2 Digicools, the AK and the 1250. They are really tough and made in Canada by a guy who is a fridgie so he knows what he wants to see in a set of gauges.

[heatsave]

Spent 4 hours trying to decide what digital manifold to go for and still no better off !
like the idea of 4 ports but everyone says its not good to evac through it due to the possibility of leaks.
Not going for an integrated vac gauge due to reports of bad readings.
Read that k type thermocouples are not as good as thermisters.

So narrowing it down to Bluvac or YJ vacumm gauge.
Testo, Sman, Digicool, or Rothenberger digital manifold. Yes still lost !

[marc5180]

Spent 4 hours trying to decide what digital manifold to go for and still no better off !
like the idea of 4 ports but everyone says its not good to evac through it due to the possibility of leaks.
Not going for an integrated vac gauge due to reports of bad readings.
Read that k type thermocouples are not as good as thermisters.

So narrowing it down to Bluvac or YJ vacumm gauge.
Testo, Sman, Digicool, or Rothenberger digital manifold. Yes still lost !

When I was choosing mine. The first three in your list were the ones I were deciding between.

Rather than asking others which ones they think are best, why not write a list of what you want from the gauges and choose that way I.e accuracy, price, data logging, ruggedness, looks, best type of sensors, battery life etc etc...

[r.bartlett]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/refrigeration-airconditioning-digital-manifold-gauges-/171276218663?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27e0dbb127

[sneep]

iManifold - Free app download. iPad or phone displays your readings. 12 remote sensors. Built in troubleshooting, etc. This looks to be the killer gauge set. http://imperial-tools.com or http://imanifold.com. Youtube video's work a look on this. Thoughts guys?

[Peter_1]

You don't receive all the remote sensors for this price. The app is free but you need anyhow the manifold. Built in troubleshooting...??? See post 8 of this thread

[MikeHolm]

One of my batteries has lasted 6 mos so far and has been on 3-4 times a week. The other one, I can't remember but the Digicools aren't power hogs

[Rob White]

.

I love my job :cool:

I'm in the office early doing some work (ok enough of the jokes, I do work sometimes)
and the imanifold rep pops in http://imanifold.com/ From Advanced http://www.advancedengineering.co.uk/

The conversation goes something like this.

Rep..... "have you seen the new wireless imanifold"
me...... "yes, there is a big debate on tinterweb about them at the moment"
Rep...... " would you like one to demonstrate to new trainees"
me....... "How much?"
Rep...... "well listed price is..............."
me....... "I was thinking more of a free one for demonstration purposes"
Rep......."I'll have to see what I can do"

Rep...... " would you like one to demonstrate to new trainees"
me........ "urmmm let me think about that, you want me to take one of these brand
new wireless imanifolds and demonstrate it to trainees, for free?"
Rep...... "Yes that would be good all round"
me....... "what about the probes?"
Rep....... It comes with 2 wired probes"
me......... "what about the wireless probes?"
Rep........" oh, OK then I'll see what I can do"

I don't think he expected to find a Yorkshire man working out of Berkshire.
So it seems I'm to be an owner of the wireless imanifold with 2 wireless and 2 wired probes.

I love my job :D

Rob

.

[hyperion]

Rob,
Some people just happen to be in the right place at the right time.:rolleyes:

[al]

Rob

What price is it retailing at including the wireless probes? emails to advanced go unanswered.

al

[marc5180]

As Al says, what's the retail price on these Rob.
I've been debating getting them (I'm a bit of a digital gauge whore).

When you get them will you do a quick review on them please Rob?

[NewmanRef]

[QUOTE=Rob

I love my job :cool:

I'm in the office early doing some work (ok enough of the jokes, I do work sometimes)
and the imanifold rep pops in http://imanifold.com/ From Advanced http://www.advancedengineering.co.uk/

The conversation goes something like this.

Rep..... "have you seen the new wireless imanifold"
me...... "yes, there is a big debate on tinterweb about them at the moment"
Rep...... " would you like one to demonstrate to new trainees"
me....... "How much?"
Rep...... "well listed price is..............."
me....... "I was thinking more of a free one for demonstration purposes"
Rep......."I'll have to see what I can do"

Rep...... " would you like one to demonstrate to new trainees"
me........ "urmmm let me think about that, you want me to take one of these brand
new wireless imanifolds and demonstrate it to trainees, for free?"
Rep...... "Yes that would be good all round"
me....... "what about the probes?"
Rep....... It comes with 2 wired probes"
me......... "what about the wireless probes?"
Rep........" oh, OK then I'll see what I can do"

I don't think he expected to find a Yorkshire man working out of Berkshire.
So it seems I'm to be an owner of the wireless imanifold with 2 wireless and 2 wired probes.

I love my job :D

Rob

.[/QUOTE]

I got a free mug from a sales rep once...

[Rob White]

As Al says, what's the retail price on these Rob.
I've been debating getting them (I'm a bit of a digital gauge whore).

When you get them will you do a quick review on them please Rob?


I'm going to be out of the office for a week
or two but I'll look into it when I get back,

But I know they are supplied by http://www.advancedengineering.co.uk/brands/imperial/

Rob

.

[Peter_1]

+/-700$/750$ was the expected selling price in the US

[al]

Advanced engineering have them on sale now, RSL in ireland are an agent, 900euros apparently but price to be confirmed, not with wireless probes yet.

al